Information processing apparatus, information processing system, information processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus includes a storing unit configured to store a plurality of pieces of screen information, each corresponding to a type of an external device that is capable of accessing the apparatus, a transmitting unit configured to transmit the screen information to the external device, a receiving unit configured to receive an instruction request that is based on the screen information displayed in the external device, and an executing unit configured to execute processing in response to the instruction request received by the receiving unit. The screen information includes a common section that is common among the plurality of pieces of screen information regardless of the type of the external device and a difference section that differs among the plurality of pieces of screen information depending on the type of the external device.

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/140,395 filed Dec. 24, 2013 which claims the benefit of JapanesePatent Application No. 2012-288231, filed Dec. 28, 2012, each of whichis hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to information processing apparatuses thatcan connect to external apparatuses and to information processingmethods.

2. Description of the Related Art

Remote control techniques for controlling image forming apparatuses suchas a printer from mobile terminals (hereinafter, referred to as“terminal devices”) such as a computer terminal, a smartphone, and atablet is known. In order to control an image forming apparatus remotelyfrom a terminal device, a user interface screen for operating the imageforming apparatus is displayed on the terminal device. When remotelycontrolling the image forming apparatus from the terminal device, theimage forming apparatus transmits, to the terminal device, the userinterface screen for operating the image forming apparatus. The userinterface screen is then displayed in an application such as a browserin the terminal device (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-114888).According to the technique discussed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.2007-114888, a remote operation terminal device that operates anotherdevice obtains device information from the other device. The remoteoperation terminal device then constructs a user interface for operatingthe other device on the basis of a device template that is compatiblewith the other device and the obtained device information.

The technique discussed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-114888,however, does not take the screen size of the terminal device (i.e., thesize of the display area) into account. Therefore, the technique may notbe suitable for some terminal devices.

The present invention provides an apparatus, a system, and a method thatmake it possible to display, in a display unit of a terminal device,screen information in accordance with the type of the terminal device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes astoring unit configured to store a plurality of pieces of screeninformation, each corresponding to a type of an external device that iscapable of accessing the apparatus, a transmitting unit configured totransmit the screen information to the external device, a receiving unitconfigured to receive an instruction request that is based on the screeninformation displayed in the external device, and an executing unitconfigured to execute processing in response to the instruction requestreceived by the receiving unit. The screen information includes a commonsection that is common among the plurality of pieces of screeninformation regardless of the type of the external device and adifference section that differs among the plurality of pieces of screeninformation depending on the type of external device.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 conceptually illustrates a system configuration of an informationprocessing system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a user interface for a smartphone type terminalaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface for a tablet type terminal accordingto the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of display control processing in a terminal deviceaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a user interface for a smartphone type terminalaccording to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of display control processing in a terminal deviceaccording to the second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the appended drawings. It should be noted thatthe embodiments described hereinafter do not limit the present inventionset forth in the claims and that not all of the combinations ofdescribed features are essential for implementing the present invention.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an informationprocessing system 1 according to a first embodiment. The informationprocessing system 1 includes an information processing apparatus 10 anda terminal device 30 for remotely controlling the information processingapparatus 10. The information processing apparatus 10 and the terminaldevice 30 are interconnected through a wired or wireless network 2.

Examples of the information processing apparatus 10 include a copymachine, a printer, and a fax, which each can connect to a network, anda multifunction peripheral (MFP) equipped with a plurality of functionssuch as a scanner function, a printer function, and a facsimilefunction. In the first embodiment, a multifunction peripheral serves asan example of the information processing apparatus 10.

The information processing apparatus 10 includes a CPU 11 that controlsthe apparatus as a whole, a ROM 12 that stores programs and data, and aRAM 13 that includes a temporary storage area such as an image memory.The information processing apparatus 10 further includes a web server14, a communication interface unit 15, an operation panel 16, and ascreen information transmission unit 17. Additionally, the informationprocessing apparatus 10 includes a print processing unit 18, a readprocessing unit 19, and a fax processing unit 101. These components areconnected through a system bus (not illustrated). The CPU 11 operates inaccordance with information stored in the ROM 12 and the RAM 13 so as tocontrol the information processing apparatus 10 as a whole.

The ROM 12 stores programs that indicate a control procedure, aprocessing procedure, and so on of the CPU 11, and the RAM 13 retains awork area, information, and so on that are necessary for controlprocessing of the information processing apparatus 10.

The web server 14 transmits a web page through the network 2 in responseto a request from a web browser 24. In addition, the web server 14receives a request from the web browser 24 of the terminal device 30which instructs the information processing apparatus 10 to carry outprocessing.

The operation panel 16 allows a user to input predetermined instructionstherein and can also display various pieces of information. The user canprovide an instruction to and configure settings for the informationprocessing apparatus 10 through the operation panel 16.

The communication interface unit 15 is configured to allow theinformation processing apparatus 10 to communicate with the terminaldevice 30 through the wired or wireless network 2. In the firstembodiment, the communication interface unit 15 is configured to allowthe web server 14 of the information processing apparatus 10 tocommunicate with the web browser 24 of the terminal device 30.

The screen information transmission unit 17 transmits screen information(e.g., web page) such as operation screen data for operating theinformation processing apparatus 10 in response to a request for theoperation screen data from the web browser 24.

The information processing apparatus 10 further includes a storagedevice 102 such as a hard disk, in which a plurality of pieces of screeninformation, each corresponding to a type of the terminal device 30, arestored. Each piece of the screen information includes setting values forthe information processing apparatus 10 written in HTML, CSS, JavaScript(registered trademark), and so on, and includes a common section that iscommon among the plurality of pieces of screen information and a sectionthat differs among the plurality of pieces of screen information. In thefirst embodiment, information that indicates whether or not componentssuch as a back button and a reload button are to be displayed on adisplay screen is written in CSS. Such information that indicateswhether or not the back button and the reload button are to be displayedcorresponds to the section of the screen information that differs amongthe plurality of pieces of screen information in image information. Inthe first embodiment, the image information includes screen informationfor a smartphone terminal and screen information for a tablet terminal,and either screen information displays content that enables input ofinstructions equivalent to those in the operation panel 16. The screeninformation for a tablet terminal corresponds to screen information fora standard screen and displays a “reload” button without displaying a“back” button in a configuration screen, which will be described laterin detail. Meanwhile, the screen information for a smartphone terminalcorresponds to screen information for a small screen and displays a“back” button in a configuration screen.

The print processing unit 18 records (prints) an image, the readprocessing unit 19 reads an image, and the fax processing unit 101carries out fax processing. The information processing apparatus 10 ofthe first embodiment includes the read processing unit 19 and the printprocessing unit 18 and is thus equipped with three functions includingcopying of images, scanning of images, and multi-crop copying of images.

The terminal device 30 includes the web browser 24 and is capable ofoperating the information processing apparatus 10 through the network 2.Examples of the terminal device 30 include a personal computer (PC) anda smartphone.

The terminal device 30 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, and a RAM 23. Theterminal device 30 further includes the web browser 24, a communicationinterface unit 25, an operation panel 26, a screen information requestunit 27, and an operation status determination unit 28. These componentsare connected through a system bus (not illustrated).

The CPU 21 operates in accordance with information stored in the ROM 22and the RAM 23 so as to control the terminal device 30 as a whole.

The ROM 22 stores programs that indicate a control procedure, aprocessing procedure, and so on of the CPU 21, and the RAM 23 retains awork area, information, and so on that are necessary for controlprocessing of the terminal device 30.

The communication interface unit 25 is configured to allow the terminaldevice 30 to communicate with the information processing apparatus 10through the network 2.

The web browser 24 is a network client and is capable of downloadingscreen information such as the operation screen data through the network2 and displaying the screen information on the operation panel 26. Ageneric web browser can be used as the web browser 24. In the firstembodiment, the web browser 24 includes functions of displaying thescreen information on the operation panel 26 and transmitting, to theweb server 14, content of a user instruction that is based on the screeninformation (operation screen data). The web browser 24 selects, amongthe plurality of pieces of screen information transmitted from thescreen information transmission unit 17, an appropriate piece of screeninformation on the basis of a user agent, which will be described laterin detail.

The communication interface unit 25 allows the user to inputpredetermined instructions and can also display various pieces ofinformation. The user can provide instructions to and configure settingsfor the terminal device 30 and the information processing apparatus 10through the operation panel 26. In other words, the user can input aninstruction for operating the information processing apparatus 10 andcan configure settings for the information processing apparatus 10 byoperating the operation panel 26, which will be described later indetail.

The screen information request unit 27 requests the operation screendata from the screen information transmission unit 17 of the informationprocessing apparatus 10.

The operation panel 26, which is a display device of the terminal device30, allows the user to input predetermined instructions therein and canalso display various pieces of information. The user provides aninstruction to and configures settings for the information processingapparatus 10 through the operation panel 26. Note that the screeninformation obtained from the screen information transmission unit 17 isdisplayed in a screen display area of the operation panel 26.

As described above, the information processing system 1 includes theinformation processing apparatus 10, which includes the web server 14,and the terminal device 30, which includes the web browser 24, and isconfigured to allow the information processing apparatus 10 to becontrolled from the terminal device 30. In the information processingsystem 1 of the first embodiment, the information processing apparatus10 can be controlled through the operation of the information processingapparatus 10 itself and can also be controlled through the operation ofthe terminal device 30.

Specifically, the communication interface unit 15 is connected to thecommunication interface unit 25 through the network 2, which enables theweb server 14 to communicate with the web browser 24. Upon receiving arequest for the screen information from the screen information requestunit 27 of the terminal device 30, the screen information transmissionunit 17 of the information processing apparatus 10 transmits displaycontent that can display instructions similar to those on the operationpanel 16 to the web browser 24 through the web server 14. The screeninformation is then displayed in the operation panel 26 of the terminaldevice 30, and the user can operate the operation panel 26 so as toremotely operate the information processing apparatus 10.

The information processing apparatus 10 includes the print processingunit 18, the read processing unit 19, and the fax processing unit 101,and while these units are in operation, the status of each job beingexecuted is notified to the terminal device 30 through the network 2.The terminal device 30 analyzes the notified information in theoperation status determination unit 28 to thus determine whether theinformation processing apparatus 10 is executing a job.

The notification of the status from the information processing apparatus10 to the terminal device 30, the determination of the status by theterminal device 30, the transmission of the screen information arerealized, for example, by executing JavaScript (registered trademark)embedded in web pages displayed in the terminal device 30.

Subsequently, a method for controlling display in accordance with thetype of the terminal device 30 of the information processing system 1according to the first embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 2 illustrates a user interface screen for asmartphone type terminal according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3illustrates a user interface screen for a tablet type terminal accordingto the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of processing carried outby the CPU 21 of the terminal device 30.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a top menu screen 31 is first displayed on theuser interface screen for a smartphone type terminal according to thefirst embodiment. The top menu screen 31 includes various menu items anda web manual. As the various menu items, for example, “locationsetting,” “printer information,” “utility,” and “firmware update” aredisplayed. When a location setting menu 32 is pressed, the screendisplay moves (shifts) to a location setting configuration screen 33.Meanwhile, when the web manual is pressed, the screen display moves(shifts) to a manual screen (not illustrated). In the configurationscreen 33, “printer name,” “installation location,” an OK button 35, anda back button 34 are displayed. If the OK button 35 is pressed, thelocation is set with the displayed printer name and installationlocation. Meanwhile, if the back button 34 is pressed, all the data isreloaded to return to the initial setting, and the screen displayreturns to the top menu 31.

In this manner, with a terminal device having a small display area suchas a smartphone type terminal, a menu screen is first displayed, and thescreen display shifts to a configuration screen selected through themenu screen. Thus, with a smartphone terminal in the first embodiment,the back button 34 is disposed at an upper left side of a screen so thatall the data is reloaded when the screen display returns to the top menu31 for a smartphone by pressing the back button 34.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the user interface screen for a tablet typeterminal, a top menu screen 41 for a tablet and a configuration screen43 are displayed simultaneously. Here, a configuration screen selectedthrough the top menu screen 41 is displayed in the configuration screen43. The top menu screen 41 includes various menu items and a web manual.As the various menu items, for example, “location setting,” “printerinformation,” “utility,” and “firmware update” are displayed. When theweb manual is pressed, the screen display moves to a manual screen (notillustrated). The above points are similar to those described withreference to FIG. 2. When a location setting menu 42 is pressed, thelocation setting configuration screen 43 is displayed at the right sideof the screen. In the location setting configuration screen 43, “printername,” “installation location,” the OK button 35, and a reload button 44are displayed. If the OK button 35 is pressed, the location is set withthe displayed printer name and installation location. Meanwhile, if thereload button 44 is pressed, the data is reloaded, and the locationsetting returns to the initial setting. In this manner, in the userinterface for a tablet type terminal, the configuration screen 43 can bereloaded by pressing the reload button 44, and thus the configurationscreen does not need to be reloaded by switching back to the top menuscreen 41.

As described above, in the first embodiment, a back button is displayedin a configuration screen of a terminal device having a small displayarea such as a smartphone type terminal. This back button includesfunctions of reloading data and returning to the top menu. Meanwhile, areload button is displayed in a configuration screen of a terminaldevice having a relatively large display area such as a tablet typeterminal. In this manner, the same function, namely reloading data, isassigned to buttons with different labels in accordance with the type ofthe terminal device.

With reference to FIG. 4, display control carried out by the CPU 21 ofthe terminal device 30 of the first embodiment will be described. Here,a case where the location setting is configured will be described as anexample.

First, when the information processing system 1 is started (S100), theterminal device 30 loads, from the web server 14, screen informationthat is necessary for displaying the user interface screen for operatingthe information processing apparatus 10 (S101). The screen informationto be loaded here may include setting values for the informationprocessing apparatus 10 written in HTML, CSS, JavaScript (registeredtrademark), and so on.

Subsequently, the terminal device 30 determines whether the terminaldevice 30 is a smartphone type terminal or a tablet type terminal(S102). Although the terminal device 30 determines whether the terminaldevice 30 is a smartphone type terminal or a tablet type terminal in thefirst embodiment, the first embodiment is not limited thereto, and theterminal device 30 may determine, for example, which one of a smartphonetype terminal, a tablet type terminal, and a PC the terminal device 30is or may determine whether or not the terminal device 30 is asmartphone type terminal. In the first embodiment, a terminal that doesnot belong to smartphone type terminals is determined to be a tablettype terminal. In other words, the terminal device 30 determines whetheror not the terminal device 30 is a smartphone type terminal. In thefirst embodiment, the determination as to whether the terminal device 30is a smartphone type terminal or a tablet type terminal is made bydetermining whether or not a specific character string is included in acharacter string, which is called a user agent, for identifying the typeof the terminal device 30. The user agent is included in the web browser24 of the terminal device 30. If the user agent includes a specificcharacter string such as “mobile,” which is a character string foridentifying a smartphone type terminal, the terminal device 30 isdetermined to be a smartphone type terminal. Meanwhile, if the useragent does not include the specific character string for identifying asmartphone type terminal, the terminal device 30 is determined to be atablet type terminal.

If the terminal device 30 is determined to be a smartphone type terminalin S102, the terminal device 30 selects screen information for asmartphone (i.e., screen information for a small screen in the firstembodiment) and displays the top menu 31 for a smartphone (S103).

The terminal device 30 then determines whether or not a menu has beenselected through the top menu (S105). Specifically, the terminal device30 determines whether or not “location setting” has been selected.

If the location setting menu 32 is selected in S105, the screen displayshifts to the location setting configuration screen 33 and displays thelocation setting configuration screen 33 (S107). In the screeninformation for a smartphone terminal of the first embodiment, the backbutton 34 is displayed in the location setting configuration screen 33.Thereafter, the processing proceeds to S108. If another menu is selectedin S105, the terminal device 30 proceeds to processing for the othersetting menu (S106). In S108, the terminal device 30 enters a state inwhich the terminal device 30 can accept a user instruction for modifyingthe setting values such as the printer name and the installationlocation through the location setting configuration screen 33 displayedin the operation panel 26, and the processing then proceeds to S110. Ifthe terminal device 30 has accepted an instruction to modify the settingvalues, the modification is reflected in the configuration screen 33.

In S110, the terminal device 30 determines whether or not the backbutton 34 has been pressed. If the back button 34 has been pressed, theprocessing returns to S101, and all the data is reloaded. Thereafter,the screen display returns to the top menu 31 through S102 (S103).Meanwhile, if the back button 34 has not been pressed, the processingproceeds to S112.

In S112, the terminal device 30 determines whether or not the OK button35 has been pressed. If the OK button 35 has not been pressed in S112,the processing returns to S110. If the OK button 35 has been pressed inS112, the setting values are not returned to the original values, andprocessing for reflecting the setting values is carried out (S114). Forexample, various processes such as setting the location of theinformation processing apparatus 10 and printing by the print processingunit 18 are carried out.

If the terminal device 30 is determined to be a tablet type terminal inS102, the terminal device 30 selects screen information for a tablet(i.e., standard screen information in the first embodiment) and displaysthe top menu 41 for a tablet terminal (S104). Specifically, asillustrated in FIG. 3, since a tablet terminal has a large display area,the menu screen and the configuration screen can be displayedsimultaneously, and a configuration screen selected from the menu isdisplayed next to the menu. Here, since the top menu 41 for a tablet isdisplayed all the time, the reload button 44 is disposed at the upperright side of the screen. In other words, the data is reloaded not bydisplaying the top menu 41 again but by pressing the reload button 44 inthe configuration screen 43. Thereafter, the processing proceeds toS109.

In S109, the terminal device 30 enters a state in which the terminaldevice 30 can accept a user instruction for modifying the setting valuessuch as the printer name and the installation location through thelocation setting configuration screen 43 displayed in the operationpanel 26, and the processing then proceeds to S111. If the terminaldevice 30 has accepted an instruction to modify the setting values, themodification is reflected in the configuration screen 43.

In S111, the terminal device 30 determines whether or not the reloadbutton 44 has been pressed. If the reload button 44 has been pressed,the processing proceeds to S113. In S113, the data for the locationsetting is loaded, and the processing returns to S104. In other words,upon the processing returning to S104, the location settingconfiguration screen 43 is regenerated and displayed with the settingvalues being initialized. Meanwhile, if the reload button 44 has notbeen pressed, the processing proceeds to S115.

In S115, the terminal device 30 determines whether or not the OK button35 has been pressed. If the OK button 35 has not been pressed in S115,the processing returns to S111. If the OK button 35 has been pressed inS115, the setting values are not returned to the original values, andprocessing for reflecting the setting values is carried out (S116). Forexample, various processes such as setting the location of theinformation processing apparatus 10 and printing by the print processingunit 18 are carried out.

Although not illustrated, if an instruction for terminating theapplication indicated by closing the display screen of the operationpanel 26 is received, the remote processing is terminated.

In the information processing system 1 of the first embodiment in whichthe screen information (user interface screen) for operating theinformation processing apparatus 10 is displayed and operated in the webbrowser 24 of the terminal device 30, the screen information is modified(selected) on the basis of whether the terminal device 30 is asmartphone type terminal or a tablet type terminal. In the firstembodiment, one of the screen information for a tablet, which displaysthe reload button for obtaining the data again, and the screeninformation for a smartphone, which does not display the reload button,is selected, and the selected screen information is displayed in thedisplay area of the operation panel 26. With the screen information fora tablet, displaying the reload button makes it possible to reload databy pressing the reload button even in a display screen that does notallow the data to be reloaded by regenerating the top menu. Meanwhile,with the smartphone type terminal, the data is reloaded by pressing theback button instead of the reload button. In other words, the backbutton is displayed with the screen information for a smartphone, andall the data is reloaded when the back button is pressed. Then, theterminal device 30 determines whether or not the terminal device 30 is asmartphone terminal, and the top menu is displayed on the basis of theresult of the determination. Thus, an equivalent function can beprovided for terminal devices having different display area sizes as inthe case of a smartphone type terminal and a tablet type terminal, andthe user operability can be improved.

Second Embodiment

In a second embodiment, the configuration of the information processingsystem 1 is similar to that of the first embodiment, and thus duplicatedescription thereof will be omitted.

A display control method according to the second embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 illustrates a user interface screen for a smartphone typeterminal according to the second embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 5, atop menu screen 51 is first displayed in the user interface screen for asmartphone type terminal according to the second embodiment. The topmenu screen 51 includes various menu items and a web manual. As thevarious menu items, for example, “location setting,” “printerinformation,” “utility,” and “firmware update” are displayed. Theoperation carried out when the location setting menu is pressed issimilar to that of the first embodiment, and thus description thereofwill be omitted.

When a utility menu 52 is pressed, the screen display moves to a utilitymenu screen 53. When the web manual is pressed, the screen display movesto a manual screen (not illustrated). In the utility menu screen 53,utility menu items and a back button 54 are displayed. As the utilitymenu items, “nozzle check pattern printing,” “cleaning,” “powercleaning,” “head position adjustment,” “feed roller cleaning,” “ink wipecleaning,” “silent setting,” “power saving setting,” “special setting,”and “language setting” can be listed as examples. Here, a case where aspecial setting menu 55 is selected will be described. When the specialsetting menu 55 is selected, the screen display shifts to a specialsetting configuration screen 57. In the special setting configurationscreen 57, various special setting items, an OK button, a back button54, and a reload button 56 are displayed. Here, as the various specialsetting items, “location setting,” “printer information,” “utility,” and“ink dry wait time” can be listed as examples. When the OK button ispressed, the special settings are set with the content specified throughthe configuration screen 57. When the back button 54 is pressed, thescreen display returns to the utility menu screen 53. When the reloadbutton 56 is pressed, all the data related to the special settings isreloaded to return to the initial settings.

In this manner, with a terminal device having a small display area suchas a smartphone type terminal, as a selection is made, the screendisplay moves to a lower level in hierarchy. In the second embodiment,by displaying the reload button 56 when the user interface screenreaches or exceeds a predetermined level in the hierarchy, the data canbe reloaded by pressing the reload button 56, instead of reloading thedata by pressing the back button 54. In the second embodiment, thereload button 56 is displayed in a screen at a level equal to or deeperthan the third level in the hierarchy. Although a case where the specialsetting is selected has been described as an example, the secondembodiment is not limited thereto, and the reload button 56 is displayedin a screen at a level equal to or deeper than the third level in thehierarchy similarly in a case where another menu item is selected.

With reference to FIG. 6, the processing of the terminal device 30 willnow be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the processing carried out bythe CPU 21 of the terminal device 30.

First, when the information processing system 1 is started (S200), theterminal device 30 loads, from the web server 14, screen informationthat is necessary for displaying the user interface screen for operatingthe information processing apparatus 10 (S201). The screen informationto be loaded here may include setting values for the informationprocessing apparatus 10 written in HTML, CSS, JavaScript (registeredtrademark), and so on.

Subsequently, the terminal device 30 determines whether the terminaldevice 30 is a smartphone type terminal or a tablet type terminal(S202). Although the terminal device 30 determines whether the terminaldevice 30 is a smartphone type terminal or a tablet type terminal in thesecond embodiment, the second embodiment is not limited thereto, and theterminal device 30 may determine, for example, which one of a smartphonetype terminal, a tablet type terminal, and a PC the terminal device 30is. Here, the determination as to whether the terminal device 30 is asmartphone type terminal or a tablet type terminal is made bydetermining whether or not a specific character string is included in acharacter string, which is called a user agent, for identifying the typeof a terminal device.

If the terminal device 30 is determined to be a smartphone type terminalin S202, the top menu 31 for a smartphone is displayed (S203). Theterminal device 30 then determines whether or not a menu has beenselected through the top menu (S204). In the second embodiment, theterminal device 30 determines whether or not “location setting” has beenselected.

If the terminal device 30 is determined to be a tablet type terminal inS202, the processing proceeds to the processing for a tablet typeterminal (S217). The processing for a tablet type terminal is similar tothe processes in S104, S109, S111, S113, S115, and S116 of the firstembodiment, and thus description thereof will be omitted.

In S204, the terminal device 30 determines whether or not a menu hasbeen selected through the top menu screen 51 for a smartphone. If a menuhas been selected, the screen display shifts to a screen that is onelevel deeper in the hierarchy (S205), and the terminal device 30determines whether or not the screen is at a level equal to or deeperthan the third level in the hierarchy (S206). If the screen is at alevel equal to or deeper than the third level in the hierarchy, thereload button 56 is displayed (S207), and the processing proceeds toS209. Meanwhile, if the screen is at a level higher than the third levelin the hierarchy, the reload button 56 is not displayed (S208), and theprocessing proceeds to S209. If the utility menu 52 is selected throughthe top menu screen 51, the screen display shifts to the utility menuscreen 53, in which the reload button is not displayed.

In S209, the terminal device 30 determines whether or not a menu hasbeen selected through the displayed screen (S209). If a menu has beenselected, the screen display shifts to a screen that is one level deeperin the hierarchy (S205), and the processing proceeds to S206. Meanwhile,if a menu has not been selected, the processing proceeds to S210.

In S210, the terminal device 30 determines whether or not the reloadbutton 56 has been selected. If the reload button 56 has been selected,all the data on the currently displayed screen is reloaded to return tothe initial settings (S211), and the processing then returns to S209.Meanwhile, if the reload button 56 has not been selected, the processingproceeds to S212.

In S212, the terminal device 30 determines whether or not the backbutton 54 has been selected. If the back button 54 has been selected,the processing proceeds to S213, and if the back button 54 has not beenselected, the processing proceeds to S214.

In S213, the terminal device 30 determines whether or not the currentscreen is at the second level in the hierarchy. If the screen is at thesecond level in the hierarchy, the processing returns to S201, and allthe data is loaded. If the screen is not at the second level in thehierarchy, the screen display shifts to a screen that is one levelhigher in the hierarchy (S216), and the processing then returns to S206.

In S214, the terminal device 30 determines whether or not the OK buttonhas been pressed. If the OK button has not been pressed, the processingreturns to S209. Meanwhile, if the OK button has been pressed, thesetting values are not returned to the original values, and theprocessing for reflecting the setting values is carried out (S215).

Although not illustrated, if an instruction for terminating theapplication indicated by closing the display screen of the operationpanel 26 is received, the remote processing is terminated.

In the interface screen for a smartphone terminal of the secondembodiment, when the screen display reaches or exceeds the third levelin the hierarchy, the reload button 56 is displayed. In other words, thereload button 56 is displayed even if the terminal device 30 is asmartphone type terminal when the screen display shifts to a screen thatis at a level equal to or deeper than a predetermined level in thehierarchy. Thus, the setting values can be initialized through a singleaction, and the user operability in the smartphone type terminal devicecan be improved.

Additional Embodiment

Thus far, embodiments of the present invention have been described, butthe basic configuration of the present invention is not limited to thosedescribed above. For example, although the predetermined level in thehierarchy is defined as the third level in the second embodiment, andthe reload button is displayed when the screen reaches or exceeds thethird level in the second embodiment, the present invention is notlimited thereto. For example, the level at which the reload button isdisplayed can be set as desired, and the reload button may be displayedat a level that is appropriate while the user load is taken intoconsideration. In addition, the reload button may be displayed not atall the levels that are equal to or deeper than a predetermined levelbut only on a configuration screen that needs reloading.

In addition, although buttons that have different labels in accordancewith the type of the terminal device, for example, have the samefunction, namely reloading, in the embodiments described above, thepresent invention is not limited thereto. For example, in place of thebutton, the same function may be assigned to a part of the screen.

Although a plurality of piece of screen information, each correspondingto a type of the terminal device 30, are transmitted to the terminaldevice 30, and the terminal device 30 selects a piece of screeninformation to display, the present invention is not limited thereto.For example, the information processing apparatus 10 may confirm the webbrowser of the terminal device 30 to select, among the plurality ofpieces of screen information, a piece of screen information that iscompatible with the terminal device 30 and may transmit the selectedscreen information to the terminal device 30.

Although the information processing system 1 in which the informationprocessing apparatus 10 and the terminal device 30 are interconnectedthrough the network 2 has been described as an example in theembodiments described above, the present invention is not limited tothereto. For example, an information processing apparatus and a terminaldevice may be interconnected through a local interface or throughshort-range wireless communication.

According to the present invention, screen information can be displayedin a display device in accordance with the type of the terminal device.

Other Embodiments

Embodiments of the present invention can also be realized by a computerof a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executableinstructions recorded on a storage medium (e.g., non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium) to perform the functions of one ormore of the above-described embodiment(s) of the present invention, andby a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing the computer executable instructionsfrom the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more ofa central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU), or othercircuitry, and may include a network of separate computers or separatecomputer processors. The computer executable instructions may beprovided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storagemedium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of ahard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), astorage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

1. An apparatus, comprising: a transmitting unit configured to transmita plurality of pieces of screen information for displaying a displayscreen on a display unit to an external device that is capable ofaccessing the apparatus; a receiving unit configured to receive aninstruction request that is based on the screen information displayed inthe external device; and an executing unit configured to executepredetermined processing in response to the instruction request receivedby the receiving unit, wherein respective display screens displayablebased on the plurality of pieces of screen information correspond torespective external apparatuses, the respective display screens allowinginput of a same type of instruction to the apparatus and having displaystates different from each other.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising an operation unit configured to allow a user to inputa predetermined instruction, wherein a display screen displayed based onone of the plurality of pieces of screen information allows the user toinput an instruction similar to the instruction that the operation unitallows the user to input.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a printing unit configured to perform printing.
 4. Theapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a web serverconfigured to transmit, to the external device, a web page for operatingthe apparatus to execute processing, wherein the web server is capableof communicating with a web browser.
 5. The apparatus according to claim4, wherein the transmitting unit selects a piece of screen informationcorresponding to the external apparatus among from the plurality ofpieces of screen information based on a setting of the web browser ofthe external apparatus, and then transmits the selected piece of screeninformation to the external apparatus.
 6. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the plurality of pieces of screen information includesinformation indicating whether to display a predetermined object on adisplay screen.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theplurality of pieces of screen information includes a piece of screeninformation for a predetermined-size screen and a piece of screeninformation for a screen smaller than the predetermine-size screen. 8.The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the piece of screeninformation for the screen smaller than the predetermine-size screencorresponds to a piece of screen information for a smartphone terminal.9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting unittransmits the plurality pieces of screen information in response to arequest for the plurality pieces of screen information from the externalapparatus.
 10. An apparatus, comprising: a receiving unit configured toreceive a plurality of pieces of screen information for displaying adisplay screen on a display unit from an external device; a displaycontrol unit configured to cause the display unit to display a displayscreen based on a piece of screen information selected from theplurality pieces of screen information received by the receiving unit,and a transmitting unit configured to transmit a predeterminedinstruction request to the external device via the display screendisplayed on the display unit.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 10,further comprising a determination unit configured to determine a typeof the apparatus, wherein the selected piece of screen information isbased on a determination result by the determination unit.
 12. Theapparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a web browserconfigured to transmit, to a web server of the external device via anetwork, a content of an instruction input via a display screendisplayed based on the selected piece of screen information, wherein thedetermination unit determines the type of the apparatus based on a useragent included in the web browser.
 13. The apparatus according to claim10, further comprising a request unit configured to issue a request forscreen information to the external apparatus.
 14. The apparatusaccording to claim 10, wherein the plurality of pieces of screeninformation includes a piece of screen information for apredetermined-size screen and a piece of screen information for a screensmaller than the predetermine-size screen.
 15. The apparatus accordingto claim 14, wherein a first display screen displayed based on the pieceof screen information for the predetermined-size screen simultaneouslydisplays a menu screen for displaying various menus and a setting screenfor a menu selected on the menu screen, wherein a second display screendisplayed based on the piece of screen information for the screensmaller than the predetermine-size screen displays a menu screen fordisplaying various menus and then, in response to a menu being selectedon the menu screen, changes the menu screen to a setting screen for theselected menu.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein thesecond display screen displayed based on the piece of screen informationfor the screen smaller than the predetermine-size screen does notdisplay a predetermined object displayed on the display screen displayedbased on the piece of screen information for the predetermined-sizescreen.